Eyelet construction

ABSTRACT

An eyelet or buttonhole construction comprising an exterior fabric member having at least one buttonhole slit formed therein; a relatively flexible fabric base reinforcing member disposed interiorly of and in confronting relation to the exterior member and having at least one buttonhole slit formed therein and aligned with the slit in the exterior member, and an adhesive material interposed between the confronting surfaces of the exterior and reinforcing members, whereby the reinforcing member is adapted for contiguous adherence to the exterior member, particularly in the area directly adjacent the slit, to prevent the fibers or threads of the exterior member from fraying upon insertion into and removal of an associated button or the like from the slit.

United States Patent Nielson 1 Jan. 25, 1972 [54] EYELET CONSTRUCTION Ruth A. Nielsen, Seestrasse 5, 8803 Rueschlikon, Schweiz, Switzerland [22] Filed: Mar.10,l969

[21] Appl.No.: 805,677

[72] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl ..2/325, 2/266, 2/338,

24/202, 24/206, 161/88 [51] Int. Cl. ..A4lf 9/00, A4lf9/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..2/338, 266, 308, 322, 265,

2/325, 320, 337, 96; 112/264; 24/141, 70, 142, 202, 203, 67 A, 90 HA, 206; 161/99, 100, 88, 109, 112,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 886,439 5/1908 Susseles ..2/338 1,471,604 10/1923 Heller..... ...2/266 2,373,594 4/1945 Pecker. .2/266 2,513,886 7/1950 Mix...; ..2/338 2,524,842 10/1950 S1amon et a1. ..24/67 X 2,831,538 4/1958 Lis'h man FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 754,571 8/1956 Great Britain ..112/264 Weiss ..2/266 X Primary ExaminerJordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Harness, Dickey & Pierce 57] ABSTRACT An eyelet or buttonhole construction comprising an exterior fabric member having at least one buttonhole slit formed therein; a relatively flexible fabric base reinforcing member disposed interiorly of and in confronting relation to the exterior member and having at least one buttonhole slit formed therein and aligned with the slit in the exterior member, and an adhesive material interposed between the confronting surfaces of the exterior and reinforcing members, whereby the reinforcing'member is adapted for contiguous adherence to the exterior member, particularly in the area directly adjacent the slit, to prevent the fibers or threads of the exterior member from fraying upon insertion into and removal of an associated button or the like from the slit.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures EYELET CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has heretofore been the practice to form buttonhole eyelets or slits by cutting a slitlike aperture in a piece of fabric or the like, and thereafter, either by hand or through the use of the buttonhole making device, applying stitching along and through the edges of the aperture to form a reinforcing welt and thereby permanently bond the severed fibers or threads of the fabric to prevent their fraying and subsequent stretching of the aperture. Not only have these methods of forming buttonholes been time consuming and expensive, but it has been found that most mechanical devices for making buttonholes are difficult and often frustrating to maneuver and use. Frequently, their efficiency is so haphazard and inconsistent that it becomes a serious problem to form two or more buttonholes which are of uniform size. Also, the inherent nature of the mechanisms heretofore known and used for forming buttonhole eyelets makes precise spacing between adjacent eyelets oftentimes unattainable. Moreover, such mechanisms cause the eyelets to be at varying distances from the edge of the fabric or garment, instead of being in precise, neat alignment. This situation is complicated due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to undo a stitched buttonhole in order to start over again and relocate the same, due primarily to the nature of the welt that is formed by the stitching, since the fibers or threads of a fabric may easily become permanently defaced once the welt is applied.

Generally speaking, the present invention is directed toward a new and improved buttonhole construction which overcomes the aforedescribed difficulties heretofore encountered in providing buttonholes on garments and other types of fabrics. More particularly, the present invention is directed toward a buttonhole construction wherein a buttonhole is instantaneously complete, once the fabric has been slit or cut, thereby obviating the need for a hand or machine stitched welt circumjacent the slit. The present invention accomplishes the aforesaid through the use of a novel reinforcing material which is disposed adjacent the location on the fabric in which the buttonhole slit is to be formed. The reinforcing material is provided with an adhesive substance by which the material is permanently bonded to the fabric. This adhesive material, once the reinforcing material is properly applied, functions to bond the severed fibers or threads of the fabric which are produced upon forming the buttonhole slit therein. By thus bonding the severed fibers or threads, the material circumjacent the slit will not have the tendency to fray or become enlarged or stretched as associated buttons are inserted and removed from the buttonhole slit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the art of joining or connecting fabriclike materials, and more particularly, to a new and improved means for forming buttonhole eyelets or the like in fabric materials.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved buttonhole or eyelet construction.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a buttonhole eyelet construction that is virtually complete upon forming a slit or aperture in a fabric and thus requires little or no binding off of the severed fibers of the fabric in which the buttonhole eyelet is formed.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide a new and improved buttonhole eyelet construction in combination with an interlining or interfacing fabric.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved buttonhole eyelet construction in combination with a self-laminating interlining or interfacing fabric.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved buttonhole eyelet construction which utilizes a strengthening or reinforcing layer of fabric which prevents stretching or deformation of the eyelet, even after continued use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a buttonhole eyelet construction that may be made without the use of special buttonhole making apparatus, and which utilizes an adhesive material disposed adjacent the buttonhole eyelet that functions to seal and bond the severed fibers of the severed fabric against fraying.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a buttonhole eyelet construction that is readily adapted for use in manufacturing belting.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, partially broken away, of the buttonhole eyelet construction embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, partially broken away, of an alternate embodiment of the buttonhole eyelet construction of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, partially broken away, of yet another embodiment of the buttonhole eyelet construction of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view, partially broken away, of still another embodiment of the buttonhole eyelet construction of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, partially broken away, of yet another embodiment of the buttonhole eyelet construction of the present invention, and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the buttonhole eyelet construction of the present invention as shown in operative association with a section of belting material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRE EMBODIMENTS Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates a novel buttonhole eyelet construction which obviates the need for providing stitching or welting around the buttonhole slit to prevent fraying or enlargement of the eyelet during extended use wherein a button or otherobject is inserted through and removed from the slit to effect the fastening of two associated garment sections or the like. In the broadest sense, the present invention contemplates the use of a reinforcing member or material which is adapted to be contiguously engaged with the interior side or face of the fabric within which the buttonhole eyelet is formed. The reinforcing member serves as a carrying agent for an adhesive substance which functions to bond the reinforcing member to the interior side of the fabric. The reinforcing member may be of a woven or nonwoven fabric construction and be fabricated of synthetic or natural fibers, and it may be used on the bias or with the grain" of the fabric. For purposes of the present invention, the specific type of reinforcing material is not critical, and any suitable reinforcing material may be used, provided it has sufficient strength and sufficiently tight consistency to prevent undue penetration of the adhesive material into the body of the reinforcing material and consequent loss of adhesive body on the surface thereof.

The adhesive material carried by the reinforcing member may be of any suitable type adapted to positively adhere to the inner side of the exterior fabric member so as to bond the fibers or threads thereof against subsequent fraying or separation after such time as the buttonhole eyelet is formed therein. Preferably, the adhesive material is of the pressure, heat-sealing type commonly known in the art, and may, although not necessarily, be composed of a polymer which is resistant to washing and cleaning solvents used during washing and drycleaning operations. Many of the thermoplastic polymers will be found to be satisfactory, such as those which are based on the vinylchloride acetate copolymers. It is important that the adhesive material have a relatively high-softening point or temperature and have a relatively short sealing period so that when the material is being applied to the fabric, the fabric is not burned or. scorched during the application of the reinforcing member. It is also important that the heating sealing adhesive material not flow through either the reinforcing member or the exterior fabric member so as to adversely affect the appearance thereof. It is, on the other hand, important that the adhesive material not have too low a sealing temperature since complete blocking of flow thereof may result, and the reinforcing material may not positively adhere to the interior side of the fabric member.

Broadly speaking, the present invention contemplates the use of the aforementioned reinforcing member which is provided with the adhesive substance thereon, wherein the reinforcing member is laminated to the interior side of an exterior fabric member. The adhesive material functions to provide a positivebond of the fibers of the fabric member to the reinforcing member, such that when a buttonhole eyelet is formed through the exterior fabric member and reinforcing member, the ends of the fibers or threads of the fabric member adjacent the eyelet are prevented from tearing, separating or enlarging, even though no stitching or welting is provided therearound. Accordingly, through the use of the present invention, a buttonhole eyelet may be provided which is positive in operation, which will remain of a uniform size, and which obviates the need for providing stitching or welting around the periphery of the eyelet. As will be described in detail in connection with the various embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein, the adhesive material may be applied in the form of an elongated strip to the reinforcing member, which strip is arranged or aligned with a series of buttonhole eyelets that are to be formed in the exterior fabric member. Alternatively, the adhesive material may be provided in the form of a plurality of patches, with each patch of adhesive material corresponding to the location where a buttonhole eyelet is to be formed in the exterior fabric. Still another alternate embodiment of the present invention will be seen where the adhesive material is applied to a reinforcing member which not only serves to prevent fraying of the threads or fibers of the exterior fabric member, but also functions as an interlining or interfacing for the fabric member. Still another embodiment of the present invention, which will be described hereinafter in detail, contemplates the use of the aforesaid reinforcing member, with the adhesivematerial applied thereto, as an agent for reinforcing the eyelets as are commonly provided in garment belting so as to prevent enlargement or tearing of the belt eyelets after repeated insertion and removal of belt buckle tongues, or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a buttonhole eyelet construction 10, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown in operative association with a pair of garment sections 12 and 14, the former of which is provided with a plurality of buttons or equivalent fastening means, generally designated 16, that are secured to the fabric of the garment section 12 by means of suitable threads or the like 18. The garment section 14 comprises an exterior fabric member 20, which may be of any suitable woven or nonwoven construction, having an edge portion 22 that is adapted to overlie the garment section 12 in a manner such that the buttons 16 may be inserted through suitable buttonhole eyelets formed in the garment section 14. The edge portion 22 is provided with a series of buttonhole eyelets or slits, generally designated 24, which are adapted to correspond one with each of the buttons 16 of the fabric section 12, as will be apparent. Disposed on the rearward or interior side of the fabric is an elongated strip or reinforcing member, generally designated 26. The member 26 is formed with a plurality of spaced buttonhole eyelets or slits, generally designated 28, which are arranged one in alignment with each of the eyelets 24 formed in the fabric 20. The entire side of the reinforcing member 26 confronting the interior side of the fabric 20 is provided with a layer of an adhesive material, generally designated by the numeral 30, preferably of the type above described. It will be seen that when the proper heat and pressure is applied to the fabric member 20 and reinforcing member 26, the reinforcing member 26 will become positively bonded to the interior side of the fabric 20, in a manner wellknown in the art. It will be noted that in an actual application of the reinforcing member 26 to the fabric 20, the eyelets 24, 28 will be formed therein after the reinforcing member 26 has been bonded to the fabric 20 to assure positive alignment thereof. After such time as the eyelets 24, 28 have been formed, the adhesive material 30 will function to positively bond the threads or fibers of the fabric 20 adjacent each of the eyelets 24 to the reinforcing member 26 so as to prevent undesirable fraying and separation of the fibers after continued insertion and removal of the buttons 16 therethrough.

In accordance with an alternate construction of the present invention, the garment section 14 may have the edge portion 22 thereof reversely folded against the rearward side of the reinforcing member 26, as indicated at 32 in FIG. 1. With this construction, the rearward or interior side of the reinforcing member 26, as well as the forward side thereof, is provided with a layer of the adhesive material 30, whereby upon heat sealing the reinforcing member 26 to the interior side of the fabric 20, the edge portion indicated at 32 will be concomitantly sealed or bonded to the rearward side of the reinforcing member 26. It will be noted, of course, that in the event the edge portion 32 is folded around the rearward side of the reinforcing member 26, when the slits 24, 28 are formed in the fabric member 20 and reinforcing member 26, similar aligned slits (not shown) will be formed in the edge portion designated at 32, whereby to permit free insertion and removal of the buttons 16 therefrom. As will be apparent, in such a construction, the adhesive material 30 on the rearward side of the reinforcing member 26 will function to bond the threads of the fibers of the edge portion 32 against separation and fraying after the buttonhole eyelets are formed therein.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein the fabric member 20 of the garment section 14 is provided with an interlining member, generally designated by the numeral 34. The member 34 is adapted to serve the same function as the reinforcing member 26 hereinabove described, as well as functioning as an interlining or interfacing for the garment section 14. Accordingly, the side of the member 34 confronting the interior side of the fabric member 20 is provided with a layer of the adhesive material 30, whereby the member 34 will adhere to the interior side of the fabric member 20 after a suitable heat sealing application is performed. Thereafter, the buttonhole slits or eyelets 24, 28 may be formed through the members 20, 34 in the manner hereinabove described, and the adhesive material 30 will function to positively bond the threads or fibers of the fabric member 20 against subsequent fraying, tearing or stretching.

FIG. 3 illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention wherein the fabric member 20 of the garment section 14 is provided with a plurality of spaced individual patches, generally designated by the numeral 36, which are adapted to serve the same function as the reinforcing member 26 in preventing the buttonhole eyelets 24 formed in the fabric member 20 from tearing, stretching or fraying. Each of the patches 36 is provided with a layer of the aforedescribed adhesive material 30 on the side thereof confronting the interior side of the fabric member 20, whereupon performing the proper heat-sealing operation, the patches 36 will be positively bonded to the inner side of the fabric member 20. Thereafter the buttonhole eyelets 24, 28 may be simultaneously formed in the fabric member 20 and patches 36 in the same manner as they were formed in the garment section 14 shown and described in connection with FIG. 1. If desired, the rearward or interior sides of the patches 36, as well as the forward sides thereof may be provided with a layer of the adhesive material 30, and the edge of the garment section 14 may be reversely folded back upon itself, as seen at 38 in FIG. 3. Accordingly, during the heat sealing operation wherein the patches 36 are bonded to the rearward side of the fabric member 20, the folded edge portion indicated at 38in FIG. 3 will be simultaneously bonded to the rearward sides of the patches 36. It will be noted that this particular construction effects a substantial saving in the amount of reinforcing material used to provide the thread and fiber bonding function of the aforedescribed reinforcing member 26, yet does not detract from the effectiveness thereof.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein the fabric member of the garment section 14 is provided with a reinforcing member 40 which is in the form of an elongated strip similar to the reinforcing member 26 as shown in FIG. 1. The reinforcing strip 40, however, differs from the member 26 in that instead of having the entire side thereof confronting the rearward side of the fabric member 20 coated with the adhesive material 30, the strip 40 is provided with a plurality of areas or patches 42 of the adhesive material 30. As will be apparent, the patches 42 correspond one with each of the locations wherein a buttonhole eyelet 24 is to be formed in the fabric member 20. lt will be seen that during the heat sealing application of the reinforcing strip 40 to the interior side of the fabric member 20, only those areas of the strip 40 in which the adhesive material 30 are applied, i.e., the patches 42, will be bonded to the fabric member 20. Thus, although a substantially smaller quantity of the adhesive material 30 is required to secure or bond the reinforcing strip 40 to the fabric member 20, the same positive bonding of the fibers or threads of the fabric member 20 adjacent each of the buttonhole eyelets 24 is achieved, since each of the eyelets 24 has a sufficient amount of the adhesive material 30 adjacent thereto to effect the desired bond of the threads or fibers to the reinforcing strip 40.

In FIG. 5, still another embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the fabric member 20 of the gannent section 14 is provided with the aforedescribed interlining member 34, as well as with yet another interior fabric member, generally designated by the numeral 44. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the interlining or interfacing member 34 and interior fabric member 44 may be either coextensive of the fabric member 20, or may be terminated at any preselected position therealong, depending upon the portion of the garment and the type of garment to which the members 34, 44 are being applied. The member 34 is provided with a plurality of the aforedescribed patches 42 of the adhesive material 30 on the side thereof confronting the interior side of the fabric member 20, with each of the patches 42 corresponding to one of the buttonhole eyelets 24 to be formed therein. Conversely, the interior or rearward side of the member 34 may be provided with an entire covering or coating of the adhesive material 30 which is coextensive of the member 34 or that portion which is adapted to be bonded to the exterior side of the fabric member 44. Accordingly, when the patches 42 are heat sealed to the interior side of the fabric member 20, the rearward side of the interlining or interfacing member 34 will be simultaneously bonded to the exterior side of the fabric member 44. It will be apparent, of course, that if desired, only preselected portions of the interior side of the member 34 may be provided with the aforedescribed adhesive material 30 instead of the entire side thereof confronting the interior fabric member 44 being coated. Alternatively, instead of the interior side of the member 34 being coated or provided with the adhesive material 30, the exterior side of the fabric member 44 may be provided with such adhesive material, depending upon the particular use of the garment section 14. In either construction, after the heat-sealing operation has been accomplished wherein the members 20, 34 and 44 have been properly bonded to one another, the plurality of buttonhole eyelets 24 may be formed to accommodate the various buttons, such as the buttons 16 of an associated garment section, such as the garment section 12, which is to be associated with the fabric section 14.

FIG. 6 illustrates the principles of the present invention as applied to a belt member, as is commonly utilized with garments worn by both men and women. More particularly, the construction shown in FIG. 6 comprises an exterior fabric member 46, which is in the form of an elongated strip, and an interior or reinforcing member 48 which is coextensive of the exterior fabric member 46 and fabricated of the same material as the aforedescribed reinforcing members 26, 34 and 40. If desired, an interior fabric member may be provided by reversely folding one longitudinal edge of the exterior fabric member 46 upon itself, as indicated at 50. In accordance with the present invention, the exterior side of the reinforcing member 48 is provided with either an entire layer of the above-described adhesive material 30 or with a series of Iongitudinally spaced areas or patches thereof, which patches or areas of material are adapted to correspond to a series of longitudinally spaced apertures or eyelets, generally designated 52, which are formed in the members 46, 48 after the same have been heat sealed into positive bonding relationship. In the event the exterior fabric member 46 is folded upon itself, as indicated at 50, the rearward side of the reinforcing member 48 is also provided with the adhesive material 30 so that both the exterior and interior sections of the fabric member 46 will be concomitantly bonded to the exterior and interior sides of the reinforcing member 48 during a single heat-sealing operation. After such an operation, the apertures or eyelets 52 may be formed through the belt structure, with the adhesive material 30 functioning to positively bond the threads or fibers of the fiber member 46 against fraying or tearing during subsequent insertion and removal of a belt tongue 54 of an associated belt buckle assembly, generally designated 56, which may be provided at one end of the belt structure, as will be apparent.

it will be seen from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel buttonhole eyelet construction that is virtually complete upon forming a slit or aperture in the fabric member which is to be connected to an associated member through the use of buttonlike fastening means or the like. By virtue of the provision of the reinforcing member and adhesive material which functions to positively bond the interior fabric member to the reinforcing member, little or no stitching or binding off of the severed fibers in the fabric in which a buttonhole is formed is required, thereby minimizing the time and effort to the extreme which is required in forming buttonholes in a garment or the like. By the very nature of the present invention, buttonholes which are to be formed in a garment section may be accurately positioned both relative to one another and relative to the edge of the fabric or garment in which the buttonholes are formed. It will be noted that in the above-described embodiments illustrating the principles of the present invention, the buttonhole slits may be formed in either a vertical or horizontal orienta tion, and the various patches or areas of application of the adhesive material 30 may vary in configuration, depending upon the size and configuration of the associated buttonhole or eyelet. Accordingly, the present invention will find universality of application, since buttonholes which are formed pursuant to the principles of the present invention may be oriented with extreme precision, while obviating the need for complicated and expensive buttonhole stitching or welting equipment heretofore required in the buttonhole forming art.

While it will be apparent that the embodiments illustrated herein are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the buttonhole eyelet construction of the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

lclaim: 1. An eyelet construction comprising, an exterior fabric member having an elongated row of buttonhole eyelets formed therein, an interior fabric member taken from the group of linings, interfacings or reverse turned portions of the exterior member extending along the entire length of said row of apertures and being formed with a plurality of eyelet apertures aligned one with each of said apertures in said exterior member,

an elongated continuous strip of a relatively flexible fabricreinforcing member disposed inteijacent said exterior and interior members, said strip of reinforcing member extending along the entire row of said eyelets and in said members and being formed with a row of buttonhole eyelets aligned one with each of said eyelets in said members, and

said reinforcing member including a heat and pressure sensitive adhesive material covering the entire side thereof confronting said exterior member, whereby when heat and pressure are applied to said members, said reinforcing member will contiguously adhere to the confronting portions of said exterior and interior members to fixedly secure said members together and reinforce and strengthen said members in the entire area thereof in which said row of eyelets is formed and prevent the fibers or threads of the exterior fabric member from fraying upon insertion into and removal of an associated button from said eyelets.

2. A belt construction comprising,

an elongated exterior fabric member having a series of Iongitudinally spaced buckle tongue receiving apertures formed therein,

an elongated relatively flexible fabric reinforcing member disposed interiorly of and in confronting relation to said exterior member and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced buckle tongue apertures formed therein and aligned with said apertures in said exterior member,

an elongated interior fabric member disposed on the opposite side of said reinforcing member from said exterior fabric member and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced buckle tongue receiving apertures formed therein and aligned with said apertures in said exterior member and said reinforcing member, and

a heat and pressure sensitive adhesive material interposed between the confronting surfaces of said exterior and interior members and said reinforcing members, whereby said reinforcing member is adapted to contiguously adhere to said exterior and interior members along the entire length thereof to fixedly secure said members in a unitized assembly and to prevent the fibers or threads of said fabric members from fraying upon insertion into and removal of an associated buckle tongue from said apertures.

* III i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 636, 569 Dated January 25, 1972 Inventor(s) Ruth A. Nielsen It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Change the spelling of the inventor's name from "Ruth A. Nielson" to -Ruth A. Nielsen-'- Signed and sealed this 5th day of September 1972 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M FLETCHER JR ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376 P69 U15 GOVERNMFNT PRINTING OFFICE 1 $959 0-356-334 

1. An eyelet construction comprising, an exterior fabric member having an elongated row of buttonhole eyelets formed therein, an interior fabric member taken from the group of linings, interfacings or reverse turned portions of the exterior member extending along the entire length of said row of apertures and being formed with a plurality of eyelet apertures aligned one with each of said apertures in said exterior member, an elongated continuous strip of a relatively flexible fabricreinforcing member disposed interjacent said exterior and interior members, said strip of reinforcing member extending along the entire row of said eyelets and in said members and being formed with a row of buttonhole eyelets aligned one with each of said eyelets in said members, and said reinforcing member including a heat and pressure sensitive adhesive material covering the entire side thereof confronting said exterior member, whereby when heat and pressure are applied to said members, said reinforcing member will contiguously adhere to the confronting portions of said exterior and interior members to fixedly secure said members together and reinforce and strengthen said members in the entire area thereof in which said row of eyelets is formed and prevent the fibers or threads of the exterior fabric member from fraying upon insertion into and removal of an associated button from said eyelets.
 2. A belt construction comprising, an elongated exterior fabric member having a series of longitudinally spaced buckle tongue receiving apertures formed therein, an elongated relatively flexible fabric reinforcing member disposed interiorly of and in confrontiNg relation to said exterior member and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced buckle tongue apertures formed therein and aligned with said apertures in said exterior member, an elongated interior fabric member disposed on the opposite side of said reinforcing member from said exterior fabric member and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced buckle tongue receiving apertures formed therein and aligned with said apertures in said exterior member and said reinforcing member, and a heat and pressure sensitive adhesive material interposed between the confronting surfaces of said exterior and interior members and said reinforcing members, whereby said reinforcing member is adapted to contiguously adhere to said exterior and interior members along the entire length thereof to fixedly secure said members in a unitized assembly and to prevent the fibers or threads of said fabric members from fraying upon insertion into and removal of an associated buckle tongue from said apertures. 